Folding packing-case.



J. S. WILLIAMSON.

FOLDING PACKING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED mm: s, 1912.

1, 1 1 5,759, Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

5 THE NORRIS PETERS (20.. PHOTO JTHO, WASHINGTON, D

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE JOHN S. WILLIAMSON, OF SEATTLE, IJVASHINGr'JL'ON'.y

, FOLDING PACKING-CASE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHNS. WILnmMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lvashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Packing- Cases, of which the following isa specification. This invention relates to collapsible packing cases and is especially adapted for shipping eggs. I

The object of theinvention is to provide a case. of this character which Willbe of simple and inexpensive construction and and claimed.

which will prove eiiicient and convenient in use.

A further object, is to employ novel devices whereby the parts of acase are supported and rigidly connected in either distended or collapsed conditions.

. IVith these ends in view, various novel details and combinations of parts are employed, which will be hereinafter described In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packing case embodying my invention and shown with the sectionsassembled ready for shipment. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover part omitted. Fig. 3 is a like View with the front and back parts in upright positions with respect to the bottom, and the end parts folded down over the latter. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the case in its collapsed form. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section to illustrate the construction and connection of a hinge employed between a side section and the base, of the case. Fig. 6 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of certain ele ments shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 1s a perspec Said members are rigidly fastened together as by nailing and may be further secured by straps 4, as shown. Said end members are of less depth than the side members.

5 represents reinforcing bars secured to both the bottom and end members. Connected by hinges 6 to the bars 5 are end sections 8. Upon their outer faces each of these sections have secured thereto f strips 9 Patented Nov. 3, 1914. Application filed. June 5, 1912. Serial No. 701,753. l i i i and 10 which'are respectively spaced from 3 the upper and lower edges of the sections. A pair of side sections 11 is provided and they are connected to the side'members 3 by hinges, which preferably consist of a twofold plate 12 fastened to the innerside of 3 the side sections. One end of the plate'12 extends beyond the side section and is formed with a loop 12 at its extremity. A

substantially staple-shaped wire member 13 l is carried by the side members 3 andhas its ends turned over as at 13 to prevent displacement thereof. The member 13191111 ther held in place adjacent the side member bystaple fastenings 14. The staple 13 is interlocked at its upper end with the loop 12 of the plate 12 and a hinge connection therefor results. formed of thin sheet metal and their connection to the side members 3 is in the same horizontal plane. The sections 11 are adapted to overlap when the 'box'is in a folded condition and it desirable that either section may perform the overlapping'function so that the user may fold" the sections one upon the other without thought as to which is the upper or under section, therefore by constructing the hinges ofthin sheet metal, it is provided that each hinge will permit either side section to overlap when the box is folded. The pivotal connection of these hinges are disposedat a distance below the upper edges of the members 3 to enable the sections 11 being swung down into the base, as illustrated in Fig. 4. .To' the inner faces ofsaid side sections are provided eyes 15 arranged to be engaged by hooks 16, provided on the end sections '8. The referred to eyes are preferably made from cars 15 provided upon the metal strips 15 secured to the outer facesofxthe several side sections, and, to facilitate the forming of such eyes, recesses 16 are provided therefor in the ends of such end sections.

Intermediate the length of the case, it is arranged to receive a partition comprising I ,1

two interconnected removable sections 17 and 17 and a bar 17 which is fixedly secured to the bottom member 1 of the base. The elements 17 and 17. are each providedwith hooks 18 at their ends which are adapted to be caught in stirrups19 secured to the side sections. To the lower edges of the elements 17 and 17 are secured metal plates 20 bent to the shape of inverted Us so as to straddle the element or bar next below, that is to say, the legs of the plates of the upper element, as 17, are arranged to embrace the element 17 while the plate of the element 17 would embrace the bar 17".

The cover 21 of the case is of rectangular configuration and is providedat its ends with depending cleats 22 which seat uponthe strips 9 of the end sections when the latter are in position in which they are represented in Fig. l, but when the end sections are folded into the base of the case then said cleats will abut against the end members 2. 23 designates corner plates extending about the corners of the cover to protect the same against breaking.

' Spring catches 24: are provided on the cover for detachably connecting it to the subjacent parts of the case. Such catches, as best shown in Fig. 6, are each formed of a wire or rod having a rectangular bend 25 whence it extends downwardly as a stem 26 to another rectangular bend 27 to terminate in a part 28 which serves as a hook bill for engagement with a staple 29 secured in the subjacent section, where the case is distended as in Fig. 1, or with a staple 29 provided on the base when the case is collapsed as in Fig. at. Each of said catches has a stem 30 extending from the bend 25 thereof to a bend 31, whence the wire passes through the opening afforded by a staple 32 which lies upon the cover, as shown,- and serves with the looped portion to maintain the stem 26 in an upright position with the hook bill 28 in engaged position with the associated staples 29 or 29. These catches are constructed of spring metal and, in consequence, the hook bills may be disengaged from the staples or brought into positions to have the bill-points introduced in such staples by the operator pushing the stems 26 in one direction or the other as may be required.

l/Vhen the case is in the collapsed condition in which it is illustrated in Fig. t there is a space S below the section 8 wherein paste board egg containers, of ordinary construction, are accommodated as well as sheets of 'pasteboard which are designed to be interposed between the successive tiers of such containers when the case is employed.

Assuming the case is in the shape shown in Fig. 1 to use same the cover 21 is first removed by disconnecting the catches 24 from the staples 29. The side sections 11 are swung up into the positions which they occupy in Fig. 3. The partition elements 17 and 17 are now removed from the top of the end sections 8, whereupon the latter are swung upwardly against the stop lugs 35, provided at ends of said end sections, and the side and side sections are fastened to gether at the vertical corners by the hooks 16 engaging eyes 15. -The partition is then put in place as before explained and the egg cartons or containers put into the spaces at opposite sides of the partition, and progressively filled with eggs. When the case is filled the cover is placed thereon and securedby the spring catches 24. being engaged with the staples 29.

From the foregoingit is apparent that the case is readily transformed from the condition (Fig. 4) in which it is sent to the shipper to the form in which it is suitable for receiving eggs for transporting to a market.

That I claim, is

A. collapsible shipping case comprising in combination, a bottom, side and end members fixedly secured thereto, said end members being of less height than the .side members, end sections hinged to said end members, wire members carried by the side members, side sections, two-fold plates secured to the inner faces of the side sections adjacent the bottom edge thereof and extending beyond the edge to hingedly engage the wire members, said two-fold plates permitting either side section to overlap the other and a cover for said case.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 29th Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents,

Washington, .D. 0. 

